Is 1/144 scale worth it?

I would stick to 1/72 because there is more choice and more decals available 1/144 is ok for very large aircraft for instance there is no way i could house a 1/72 C5 Galaxy or something else that size but 1/144 although it would still be very large it would still be a manegable size....Gregers

I find the bigger the scale, the easier it is to see and practice the things I want to do. I don't think youll get much practice detailing a 144th cockpit, if that is what you want to work on.

Back during Desert Storm I had the brilliant idea of building every current aircraft in the force in 1/144, and I bought DML's whole line of 1/144 fighters. I built two or three, had no fun at all, messed them up, and sold the rest. Too dang small to work on easily.

Well, it depends what you want to do, Dans. You'd be quite surprised to see the range available, from various manufacturers such as big names such as Revell, Academy (to name but a few) and 'garage' companies such as Aeroclub for instance. You can even find white metal seats and other bits to maske them more 'realistic'.

They are also cheap and a good way to get started in conversion jobs. You mess it up, well you are only short of a few dollars. Try conversion with Tamiya models..!

True enough decvals are not very easy to find, but there are some available, and many 1/144 kits have been 'declined' Hasegawa- or Fujimi-like with various boxes with different schemes.

For larger models such as Tu-22, B-1b, B-2, B-36 and the like it's the only 'manageable' scale (I do not have that much room). For airliners, it's the best scale in terms of choice and aftermarket bits (conversion items, decals, PE sets,..) and many of those can be turned into military types anyway (VC-10, DC-3, Tristar, ..).

So my advice is go for it!

Dans, here's a few of my 1/144 models, just to give you an idea...

First is the prototype of the MiG-23 family, the Ye-23IG, modified from the Matchbox/Revell kit. The base is about 4in x 4in.



Next is my Tupolev Tu-22-M-2; it's the Academy kit, slightly modified to represent it taking off (slats and flaps down, wings slightly bent, ..)



Next is a resin kit from a company called Masterkit. It's an Embraer P95, Maritime patrol aircraft used by the Brazilian Navy. 'Out of the box', in terms of modification to the kit, but I still had to replace all antennaes and thin a number of bits!



And finaly, the old Airfix Boeing 737-200, with Daco decals to represent the now defunct Belgian airline, Sabena.

I buidl all sizes but I find the 1/144 a special place for me to super detail. I have built a revell of germany 1/144 stuka and had a conopy vacuformed and sliced open to show a scratch built interior I made from the streched spruce I got from the kits own parts tree. I agree the cost of the kits are low. I have found the DML A-10A one of the very best becouse it includes a nearly complete cockpit. The A-10 I built I sliced the flaps off and redeployed them. I messed up on the clear coat and in the end the frosting of clear coat looked identical to morning dew.
Good luck on the 1/144 adventures.
Tally ho
Rosie

To me, 1/144 is reserved for only very large subjects, and for smaller models, such as fighters, etc, stick to 1/72 at least, or preferrably 1/48.

Did I mention that you can find subjects ranging from Fokker Dr.I and Gotha G.IV (Sram) to the Type 97 Mavis Flying Boat (Trumpeter) to the P-47 (Revell) to the Catalina (Academy) to the B-17 (Revell) to the English Electric Lightning (Welsh Models) to the F-4 Phantom (Airfix) to the Grumman Hawkeye (Panda) to the Ilyushin Il-62 (Braz Models) to the Saab Viggen (Airfix) to the BAe Hawk (Welsh Models) to the Sukhoi Su-25 (Panda) to the Convair B-58 Hustler (Academy) to the F-16XL (Airfix) and the B-1b (Panda)..? That's without counting the numerous otrher P-51, Spitfire, Stuka, Fw-190, Me-109, Hawker Hunter, F-16, F-18, F-15, F-20, F-22, Mig-23, Mig-25, MiG-27, Mig-31, Su-22, Rafale, Typhoon,....

Now, how's that for choice?

For me they are a great time filler, and for practicing things like filling, scratchbuilding and testing airbrushing skills.

Andy

I suggest you to buy some cheap 1/72, practice your techniques and have some fun. Revell, matchbox or cheap italeri will be fine to test your skills at a small price.
Giulio

"Tiny Scale" (144th) is great, I just wish I didn't have all the time, $$$ and effort put into my 48th stuff. otherwise I might be tempted to switch to "Little Scale" (72nd), "Real Little Scale" (100th), "Tiny Scale" and "Super Tiny Scale" (200th).

Also, with my interest in warships, I'd like to find some "Super Freakin' Tiny Scale" (1/350th) aircraft for the Trumpeter carriers. (Besides the ones they have available, that is!)

I do have a bunch of 144th stuff but, alas, I'm trying to get rid of most of it! LOL


Fade to Black...

I just got a 1/32 scale Tamiya F4J and a Hasegawa FW190 D9.
I may have to build 1/144 from now on - or move out of the house!

My suggestion is if you want to re-evaluate or warm-up your skills use the 144th coz (1) you'll be using smaller parts(challenge of fitting parts) (2) you get to practice painting and masking again small parts. (3) 144th are cheaper than 72nd. If your to model large ACs the 144th is good for B-52, B-17, B-2, B-1s and several others, 144th is the scale to use. That what I use since I have limited showcase area.
The 72nd is great for exhibit materials, it has large number of topics to choose from plus decent if not good details.

Well, I just bought the Revell kits of the Hawker Hunter, both in 1/32 and in 1/144. Haven't opened the big one yet (I'm in the office, ssshhhh!), but the little one is sooooooooooooooo cute! Engraved lines, and even a full cockpit tub, a decent seat and decals for the instrument panel.